Draft prospects show off at Friday combine in Toronto

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Draft prospects show off at Friday combine in Toronto

Colin Wilson showed off an impressive physique and maximum effort as draft eligible players gathered for the 2008 NHL draft combine in Toronto.

Wilson, who just completed his freshman season with the Boston University Terriers came in to the fitness testing with a very broad upper body and used it to his advantage, pumping out 22 (unofficial) reps of 150 pounds on the bench press and keeping his heart rate steady on the two biking stations, the Wingate anaerobic and VO2 Max aerobic challenge.

On the other end of the spectrum, Russian phenom Nikita Filatov started out well, doing more bench press reps than expected (six, unofficially), but struggled with the VO2 Max biking.

That particular exercise is the hardest of the day, where the tension against the rider rises as time goes on. Filatov nearly stopped on several occasions and was visibly disoriented afterward. At one point, officials were ready to catch him, thinking he might fall off or pass out.

Despite the inevitability that he will be picked first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sarnia Sting pivot Steven Stamkos showed off his stuff at the combine, keeping his heart rate steady during the two bike exercises.

Other standouts for the day included Boston College commit Jimmy Hayes, whose Vertec vertical jump was eclipsed only slightly by the 6-foot-7 Tyler Myers of Kelowna. Hayes had one of the lowest heart rates (approximately 160 versus an average of 190) while peaking on the Wingate bike test, and it certainly wasn't due to lack of effort. Hayes even cheered on his buddy Wilson instead of fully resting after.

Another one of the highly anticipated participants was Peterborough Petes defenseman Zach Bogosian, who did not disappoint.

Bogosian worked himself into an intense froth on the Wingate bike exercise, while racking up 18 (unofficial) repetitions on the bench press.

UMass commit John Carlson and Chicoutimi center Joel Champagne were also impressive with (unofficially) 18 and 19 reps, respectively.